Aamir Khan has been a stalwart of Indian Cinema, and for the last 30 years, he has been entertaining audiences across the globe with his films. In fact, Aamir can also be considered as a box office giant, given that he was the first person to kickstart not only the Rs 100 crore club, but also Rs 200-300 crore club. His might at the box office and the ability to take risks also gave him the success code to become a producer, who can not only back big projects but also support small and experimental films.
New beginnings
Aamir’s journey as a producer started with the new millennium, when he decided to back Ashutosh Gowariker’s dream called Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India.The film, set in the era of pre-independence, told the story of 11 villagers taking on the might British in the field of cricket – back then, it was considered to be the most expensive Indian film, but it gave massive returns of Rs 34 .31 crore, and even was in the running for the Oscars.
Break in career
Post Lagaan, Aamir took a long break from his career as he was gearing up for Mangal Pandey: The Rising, only to come back with Taare Zameen Par in 2007 with Darsheel Safary in the lead. The film was a big risk as it focused on a child suffering from dyslexia and Aamir could easily pass off as a ‘second lead’, appearing only in the second half. However, the film was a huge success, minting Rs 61.83 crore. And next, came his nephew Imran Khan’s debut film Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na in 2008 which was once again a success, and collected Rs 55.62 crore.
Experimental cinema
In 2010, Aamir got a bit more experimental when he decided to back Peepli ( Live), a satire about farmer suicide – the film worked at the box office, garnering Rs 30.41 crore. In 2011, Aamir backed two diametrically opposite films next – one was Kiran Rao’s debut film Dhobi Ghat – a story of 4 different individuals, and Delhi Belly with Imran Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapur. While Dhobi Ghat earned only Rs 13.77 crore causing a lot of heartache, Delhi Belly changed the grammar of films with its storyline and songs, and went on to collect Rs 52 crore.
Next for Aamir came Zoya Akhtar’s Talaash: The Answers Lies Within which he co-produced. The movie, co-starring Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor was all about coming to terms with grief, with an element of the supernatural. The film got good reviews and went on to earn Rs 93.40 crore. Aamir then turned into a wrestler for his next which went to become one of the biggest hits of Indian Cinema- Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal. The film which had Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra in the lead, earned Rs 387 crore at the box office.
Backing small projects
In 2017, Aamir Khan once again took risk with his production Secret Superstar which turned its lens towards domestic violence and young dreams and was directed by his assistant Advait Chandan The film starred Zaira Wasim, Mehere Vij with Aamir in a guest appearance. The film not only was a success in India, but also across the globe, especially in China, where it is said to have earned Rs 900 crore whereas it’s India collection was Rs 63.40 crore.
Laal Singh Chaddha debacle and resurgence
In 2022, Aamir teamed up with Advait once again to make the official Hindi remake of Forrest Gump, called Laal Singh Chaddha with Kareena Kapoor in the lead. The film, unfortunately, tanked at the box office, earning only Rs 58.73 crore, the lowest collection for an Aamir Khan film in a log time. The fate of the film affected Aamir and he decided to take off from his work and concentrate just on his family. But as they say, the show must go on, Aamir and Kiran Rao came up with Laapataa Ladies which in 12 days has earned just Rs 9.38 crore.
New beginnings
Aamir’s journey as a producer started with the new millennium, when he decided to back Ashutosh Gowariker’s dream called Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India.The film, set in the era of pre-independence, told the story of 11 villagers taking on the might British in the field of cricket – back then, it was considered to be the most expensive Indian film, but it gave massive returns of Rs 34 .31 crore, and even was in the running for the Oscars.
Break in career
Post Lagaan, Aamir took a long break from his career as he was gearing up for Mangal Pandey: The Rising, only to come back with Taare Zameen Par in 2007 with Darsheel Safary in the lead. The film was a big risk as it focused on a child suffering from dyslexia and Aamir could easily pass off as a ‘second lead’, appearing only in the second half. However, the film was a huge success, minting Rs 61.83 crore. And next, came his nephew Imran Khan’s debut film Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na in 2008 which was once again a success, and collected Rs 55.62 crore.
Experimental cinema
In 2010, Aamir got a bit more experimental when he decided to back Peepli ( Live), a satire about farmer suicide – the film worked at the box office, garnering Rs 30.41 crore. In 2011, Aamir backed two diametrically opposite films next – one was Kiran Rao’s debut film Dhobi Ghat – a story of 4 different individuals, and Delhi Belly with Imran Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapur. While Dhobi Ghat earned only Rs 13.77 crore causing a lot of heartache, Delhi Belly changed the grammar of films with its storyline and songs, and went on to collect Rs 52 crore.
Next for Aamir came Zoya Akhtar’s Talaash: The Answers Lies Within which he co-produced. The movie, co-starring Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor was all about coming to terms with grief, with an element of the supernatural. The film got good reviews and went on to earn Rs 93.40 crore. Aamir then turned into a wrestler for his next which went to become one of the biggest hits of Indian Cinema- Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal. The film which had Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra in the lead, earned Rs 387 crore at the box office.
Backing small projects
In 2017, Aamir Khan once again took risk with his production Secret Superstar which turned its lens towards domestic violence and young dreams and was directed by his assistant Advait Chandan The film starred Zaira Wasim, Mehere Vij with Aamir in a guest appearance. The film not only was a success in India, but also across the globe, especially in China, where it is said to have earned Rs 900 crore whereas it’s India collection was Rs 63.40 crore.
Laal Singh Chaddha debacle and resurgence
In 2022, Aamir teamed up with Advait once again to make the official Hindi remake of Forrest Gump, called Laal Singh Chaddha with Kareena Kapoor in the lead. The film, unfortunately, tanked at the box office, earning only Rs 58.73 crore, the lowest collection for an Aamir Khan film in a log time. The fate of the film affected Aamir and he decided to take off from his work and concentrate just on his family. But as they say, the show must go on, Aamir and Kiran Rao came up with Laapataa Ladies which in 12 days has earned just Rs 9.38 crore.
